Estimation of the Electromagnetic Radiation Emitted from a Small Centrifuge Plant

Centrifuges used to enrich uranium utilize an electric motor to spin the rotors to high speeds. The current flowing in these motors emits electromagnetic radiation. This article presents a model that estimates the strength of the radiation as a function of distance from the centrifuge plant. It discusses the dependence of the radiative power on the size of the plant, the noise sources at the frequencies at which the motors operate, and means of detecting the signal from a centrifuge enrichment facility. According to the findings, a plant running 1,000 P-2 type centrifuges emits electromagnetic radiation that should be detectable in a 0.5-3 kilometer range in the absence of shielding.